Dietary Supplementation of a Live Yeast Product on Dairy Sheep Milk Performance, Oxidative and Immune Status in Peripartum Period

Abstract

This study evaluated the dietary administration of Saccharomyces cerevisiae live yeast on milk performance and composition, oxidative status of both blood plasma and milk, and gene expression related to the immune system of lactating ewes during the peripartum period. Chios ewes were fed either a basal diet (BD) (Control, n = 51) or the BD supplemented with 2 g of a live yeast product/animal (ActiSaf, n = 53) from 6 weeks prepartum to 6 weeks postpartum. Fatty acid profile, oxidative, and immune status were assessed in eight ewes per treatment at 3 and 6 weeks postpartum. The β-hydroxybutyric acid concentration in blood of ActiSaf fed ewes was significantly lower in both pre- and postpartum periods. A numerical increase was found for the milk yield, fat 6% corrected milk (Fat corrected milk (FCM6%)), and energy corrected milk yield (ECM) in ActiSaf fed ewes, while daily milk fat production tended to increase. The proportions of C15:0, C16:1, C18:2n6t, and C18:3n3 fatty acids were increased in milk of ActiSaf fed ewes, while C18:0 was decreased. Glutathione reductase in blood plasma was increased (p = 0.004) in ActiSaf fed ewes, while total antioxidant capacity measured by 2,2′-Azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) method was decreased (p < 0.001). Higher ABTS values were found in the milk of the treated group. The relative transcript levels of CCL5, CXCL16, and IL8 were suppressed, while that of IL1B tended to decrease (p = 0.087) in monocytes of ActiSaf fed ewes. In conclusion, the dietary supplementation of ewes with S. cerevisiae, improved the energy utilization and tended to enhance milk performance with simultaneous suppression on mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory genes during the peripartum period.

Alterations in the Rumen Particle-Associated Microbiota of Goats in Response to Dietary Supplementation Levels of Schizochytrium spp.

“…It is worth mentioned that Control measurements were omitted by the sampling time discriminant analysis in order to evaluate the microorganism adaptation occurred by dietary effect. Wilk's lambda (λ) criterion was used for assessing discriminant functions [3]. Twenty-four variables (microorganisms' relative abundances) were entered to create a model to distinguish the seventy-two samples of the first case (4 groups × 6 goats/group × 3 sampling time) and fifty-four for the second (3 dietary treatments × 6 goats/group × 3 sampling time).…”

“…Post hoc analysis was performed when appropriate using a Tukey's multiple range test [3]. GraphPad Prism 6.0 (2012) was used for interleaved bars, while errors bars represent the standard error of means (SEM), and the corresponding superscripts letters have been emerged by SPSS repeated measure analysis (Figure 3).…”

“…According to population growth rate predictions, global population is anticipated to reach 9.15 billion by 2050 [2]. Consequently, both dairy products and meat consumption are expected to increase in 2050 by 58 and 73 percent, respectively, compared to their 2010 levels [2][3][4], due to the aforementioned demands. Simultaneously, methane (CH 4 ) emissions are expected to rise by 30% until 2050, as a result of meat and milk increasing demands if mitigation strategies are not implemented [5].…”

Effects of Supplementing Rumen-Protected Methionine and Lysine on Milk Performance and Oxidative Status of Dairy Ewes

“…LPO activity in milk was performed by monitoring the oxidation of 2,2′-Azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) ABTS presence of hydrogen peroxide at 340 nm. MDA was measured according to Nielsen et al [ 29 ] with some modifications described by Mavrommatis et al [ 30 ]. The protein carbonyls (PC) were assayed according to the method of Patsoukis et al [ 31 ].…”

Fungi and Fungal Metabolites for the Improvement of Human and Animal Nutrition and Health

“…Only a minority of the yeasts were able to produce gas at temperatures common in the pig gut. Moving to dairy sheep milk performance, Mavrommatis et al [ 4 ] evaluate the dietary administration of Saccharomyces cerevisiae live yeast on milk performance and composition, oxidative status of both blood plasma and milk, and gene expression related to the immune system of lactating ewes during the peripartum period. In conclusion, the dietary supplementation of ewes with S. cerevisiae improved the energy utilization and tended to enhance milk performance with simultaneous suppression of mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory genes during the peripartum period.…”